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Running for Love

From rising before the crack of dawn to walking with Miss Sophie this evening, from the icy chill of early morning to the warmth of the afternoon sun, today has brought a plethora of images of new life and sweet life.

The last of the blooms on what I believe is a Japanese magnolia at my favorite campus.

These sweet yellow flowers remind me of my Granny’s farm. I love them and all the warm fuzzies they bring.

This tree has been bare all winter. Look at that beautiful green!

Each of these leaves was smaller than the tip of my pinky. I love to see some baby goats and baby puppies and babies of all sorts and kinds, but baby leaves are pretty cute too I think.

And for the sweet. Cinnamon rolls thrown in the oven when we got back home, and our Princess decided to top hers with her all-natural gummy bears. It’s Easter, why not?

But the sweetest image I can only picture in my head.

My brother, who is a minister, called me after church today. He was, in his own words, honored to be the one to give the sermon at their Community Sunrise service this morning. When he told me what he talked about, my heart was full, and I wanted to give him the biggest hug.

But it’s not geographically possible right now.

He talked about the story found in the Good Book in John 20–the story of John running for the tomb. My brother pointed out how grownups don’t run toward something like that very often, so filled with love and passion. He’s right, isn’t he? Children seem to have cornered the market for running with joyful abandon, but not us adults.

Except for my brother. He runs and chases his children. And mine. And Mess Cat’s little guy. He’s good at that. So much so that his presence is requested outside at least once every day when they are here.

Children like to run towards someone or something they are excited about, something or someone who fills them with joy. Children also like to be chased. Pursued.

I love this story, and what it challenges me to do.

I need to seek joy. Pursue it. Run towards it. Run towards the new life that can come from loving all and from caring and showing compassion. Forgetting what I look like while I’m doing it, I need to run hard and catch that joy.

Who in your world needs someone running towards them? Who needs someone in pursuit of them because they are loved and cared about, so they can see and feel that?